Library-case



(No Model.)

J. A. LYONS.

LIBRARY CASE.

No. 397,012. Patented Jan. 29,1889.

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@ZwM M UNITED STATES PATENT QEEICE.

JAMES A. LYONS, ()F NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.

LIBRARY-OAS E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 397,012, dated January 29, 1889.

Application filed October 2, 1888.

T0 aZZ whom. it may concern; Be it known that I, JAMES A. LYONs, of Nashville, in the county of Davidson and E State of Tennessee, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Library-Cases; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

Myinvention is an improvement in librarycases, and is designed for circulating libraries, such as those used in connection with Sunday-schools; and the object of the invention is to provide a distinct and separate compartment for each book, in order to secure rapid distribution, accurate record, and the certain return of thebooks; and the construction also provides adjustable subdivisions, whereby they may be adapted to different sizes of books.

The construction is shown in the accompa nying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a front view with a retaining-strip partly broken away. Fig. 2 shows a section taken vertically from front to rear, and Fig. 3 is a section of shelf and retainingstrip. I

In the drawings the sides of the case are represented at A, the top at B, these being of ordinary construction an d constituting a case, or the shell thereof, of any rize or relative dimensions which may be required. At D is shown a shelf or horizontal partition which is supported at its ends, which rest in grooves out horizontally from front to rear in the side of the wall in the ordinary manner. Of these shelves any convenient number may be used. They are cut from front to rear at right angles to the front edges with vertical kerfs E, fitted to receive thin partition-strips F, which divide the whole case vertically into compart ments. These kerfs are cut at a distance apart approximately equal to the thickness of the books liable to be used, and a sufficient number of these kerfs are cut, so that the division strips or walls may be inserted or changed at pleasure. Along the front edges of the shelves D the grooves (Z are cut parallel with the upper and lower surfaces of the shelves, said grooves being of any required depth to receive the tongue g of the retaining-strip G, hereinafter described.

A false top, I), and a false bottom, 0, are provided and are formed with kerfs in the same Serial No. 286,951. (No model.)

manner as described for the shelves, and these kerfs register and are in line with the kerfs of the other shelves, this false top and false bottom serving to hold the upper and lower ends of the vertical strips in proper position, said strips receiving intermediate support from the kerfs of the othershelves.

The vertical partition-strips F, extending from top to bottom of the case, are of such width and thickness as to fit snugly into the kerfs E and are formed with notches f on their front edges, said notches being made of such size and at such intervals as to receive the tongues gwhen the retaining-strips G are in their places along the front of the shelves D. These retaining-strips, with the tongues c are employed in order to hold the vertical partition-strips securely in place and at the same time to prevent the shelves 1) from sagging at any point. These retaining-strips are of equal length with the shelves. The tongues g, entering the grooves d in the shelves and also the correspondingnotches, f, in the vertical partition-strips, support the shelves upon the shoulders of the notches f. The retaining-strips form a finish to the shelves and a base for the lettering and numbering of the subdivisions of the case and are secured to the front of the shelves by means of screws or in any other convenient way which will permit of their removal. It is not necessary that the vertical strips should extend all the way back to the rear of the case, and it is not desirable that the kerfs in the shelves should be cut to a point near the rear, as this would weaken the shelf, although the shelf may be supported on the back, and the front strip G tends to connect the sections separated by the kerfs and to give them support. One or more of the vertical strips may be made to extend back beyond the kerfs by forming the rear edge with notches made to fit the thickness of the shelves, the shoulders of the notches thus lending additional support to the shelves, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2.

The interior parts above described are all designed to be removable, so that the number and dimensions of the pigeon-holes or subdivisions may be increased readily or diminished at will for the reception of books of various sizes. The construction also admits of books being securely packed in the case ease and of less depth than the depth oi. said i Ct1S(-),PFLl'lllGl 'kerls out in said shelves, vert i 1 'eal removable partitions fitting said kerli's, and retaining-st rips (l, l'OllKWttbl)SOGLU'Otl to the shelves 't'orholding said partitionsinplnoe, substmttiull v as deserihed.

'3. In combination, in 21 library-ease, the

shelves :l'ormed with korfs extending verti- ("ally and grooves cut in the front edges,vo'rtieal partition-strips formed with notches to register with the grooves in the shelves, and tongues g, adamed to lit the grooves and notehes off the shelves and partitions, snhstnntially as described.

In eombilmtion, in a lilnnry-ease, the shelves formed with kert's and grooves, the vertical partitions formed with notches, and tho retniniilg-stripslmvine'the ton g'tles g, snl st antinlly as described.

In. testimony whereof I have signed my name to this SllOCli'lCillllOl] in the presmieeol two sill)- serihing' witnesses.

JAMES A. LYONS.

\\' itn esses:

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